10 Timeless Style Icons

Style trends come and go, but certain looks persevere well past their inception. They become mainstays of the male wardrobe, mainly because they're simple, straight-forward and less prone to changing times than things like, say, leisure suits or Ed Hardy tees. Take a look at these 10 style icons who exhibited their own timeless looks, and adjust your closet accordingly.

Muhammad Ali
He was at his best in a pair of gloves, but the simple tailored suits and slim ties Ali donned outside the ring reflected the class and attention to style of his era.

James Dean
Dean didn't need his iconic leather jacket and boots for his inherent cool to shine through; a pair of worn-out sneakers and loose slacks worked just fine.

Jack Kerouac
When you wander as much as Kerouac did, there's not much time for stylish suits and accessories. His wardrobe often consisted of whatever he could fit in a backpack, and it was that bare-essentials approach to life that fed his effortless look.

Michael Caine
Of course, there's nothing wrong with wearing stylish suits and accessories, as Caine demonstrates in this photo from his early days in the limelight. A beautiful woman hanging off your side never hurts either.

Marvin Gaye
He could rock a tailored suit whenever he wanted, but Gaye's greatest contribution to style was his casual wear. Few men have ever worn denim shirts quite as well as him.

Paul Newman
Newman ranked right up there along Hollywood's all-time coolest, and his style choices reflected that. Aside from starring in some amazing films (and producing some equally amazing salad dressing) he demonstrated how to turn a few simple pieces into a kickass personal uniform that reflected his character and contributed to his lasting influence.

Bruce Lee
To be clear, Lee was one of a very small handful of men throughout history who could wear a shirt like that. The thing to take away from his bold choice of apparel is that confidence is the key to any outfit. Of course, confidence comes pretty easily to a guy who can kick a person in half, but you know what we mean.

Steve McQueen
Whether he was jumping motorcycles, racing cars or starring in Hollywood classics, McQueen never had a day when he didn't look like the coolest guy in the room, or any room for that matter. Key takeaways: basic sweaters, fitted button-downs, earth tones and the ability to impregnate a woman with your eyes.

Johnny Cash
Cash dressed the same way he played music: pared down, to the point and always true to himself. His simple black suits were as conservative as they come, which meant his songs were the center of attention when he got up on stage, and not his choice of apparel.

Woody Allen
As one of the most prolific and active filmmakers in the industry, Allen doesn't have a whole lot of time to stand in front of his closet in the morning. That shows in his style, which hasn't changed a whole lot since the early '70s, and demonstrates the practical benefits of picking a personal uniform and sticking with it.